Wartime sensitivities?

Sanshiro Sugata ( (姿三四郎, aka Judo Saga; 1943)
Director: Akira Kurosawa

Japan was at the pinnacle of spreading the influence of The Land of the Rising Sun over its Eastern and South East Asian minions. Back home it was business as usual, art and culture wise. Movies were still made and Kurosawa made his directorial debut through this movie. To keep to the wartime sensitivities of the nation, the censors slashed 1845 feet (17 minutes) of the film footage prior to screening without the consent of the producers.
This debut effort shows unique characteristic camera work of Kurosawa.

The story is simple. A rogue but talented street fighter, Sanshiro Sugata, tries to learn martial arts from a master who refuses. First, he has to learn humility and discipline.
He transforms into a conscientious and respected Judo fighter.
A shady character appears to challenge him to a square fight but his master denies that. The fight eventually happens at the end. Before that he has fight other great jujitsu proponents. In the process Sugata falls in love with a demure girl whose father coincidentally happens to his challenger. His dilemma is that the duel is to last to to death and the girl seem to be endlessly in deep prayers invoking the Gods to the safety of her father, the great respected jujitsu exponent!
The fight ends amicably with Sugata winning and gaining the respect of the elder and his girl.
The final showdown shows the reluctant Sugato winning the encounter with the stranger and maturing into fine man.
This film does not stand out together with Kurosawa's other great efforts. Anyway, I am a lover of peace, not a fighter.
Wartime sensitivities? What is that? I thought man lose all his senses, sensibilities and sensitivities before he finally plunges into the bottomless quick sand of war!

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